Stable aqueous steroid phosphate solutions

ABSTRACT

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for parenteral administration, consisting of aqueous solutions of steroid 21phosphate esters stabilized with a compound selected from thioglycerol and thioglycolic acid.

United States Patent Crivellaro et al. [4 Oct. 3, 1972 [s41 STABLE AQUEOUS STEROID [56] References Cited PHOSPHATE SOLUTIONS UNITED STATES PATENTS [72,] lnvemrs= Gimnbmista mum; 3,146,164 8/1964 Macek 'et al. ..424/175 x Crew", both of M1121, Italy 2,719,812 10/1955 Hanus ..424/175 7 Assignee; Gruppo Lepem Milan, Italy 2,498,200 2/1950 Bray ..424/ 175 Filedi y 1970 Primary Examiner-Shep K. Rose Attomey-Griswold & Burdick, C. Kenneth Bjork and [21 Appl, No.. 35,236 Maynard R Johnson I Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT v 2 Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for parenteral M .9. a. y"f.',.'.7 '3 l11fZZLZEEMW administration, consisting of aqueous solutions of steroid 2l-phosphate esters stabilized with a compound [52] US. Cl. ..424/175, 260/397.45, 424/243 selected from thioglycerol and thioglycolic acid [51] Int. Cl. ..A61k 9/00 1 58] Field of Search ..260/397.4S', 424/175, 243

9 Claims, No Drawings STABLE AQUEOUS STEROID PHOSPHATE SOLUTIONS This invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for parenteral administration. More particularly, this invention is concerned with stable aque ous solutions of 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate esters.

The 2l-phosphates of 2l-hydroxysteroids are commonly used for the preparation of aqueous solutions suitable for parenteral administration, since they are far more soluble than the corresponding 2l-hydroxysteroids and their 2 l -ester with carboxylic acids. However, the 2l-phosphate esters are readily hydrolized in water and from aqueous solutions the 2l-hydroxysteroids generally'precipitate after a very short time. It is therefore necessary to prepare the aqueous solution just before actual administration; or alternatively to add to the solution a stabilizing agent.

It has now been found that a particularly suitable and advantageous stabilizing agent for preparing stable aqueous solutions of 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphates is a compound selected from thioglycerol and thioglycolic acid of the formula thloglycerol thioglycolic acid The pharmaceutical parenteral compositions to which the above stabilizing agents can be added with excellent results are parenteral solutions containing the 2l-phosphate esters of every pharmacologically useful 2l-hydroxysteroid, such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, 9a-fluoroprednisone, 9afluoroprednisolone, dexamethasone, paramethasone, triamcinolone, l6fl-methylprednisone, etc. Of course, the 21-phosphate esters are present in the parenteral solutions in the form of their soluble salts, such as an alkali metal salt or a salt with an aliphatic or araliphatic amine.

The aqueous parenteral solutions are generally prepared by dissolving in water. the 2l-phosp'hate ester salt, or suspending the 2l-phosphate ester in water followed by the alkali metal hydroxide or carbonate or the amine to have a solution with a pH of about 6 to 8, and preferably 6.5 to 7.5, and then adding the stabilizing agent. The parenteral solution will then contain the usualantioxidant agents, such as alkali metal sulfites and citrates, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, etc; if desired, the common preservatives, such as methyl and propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, benzyl alcohol, chelating agents, such as ethylenediaminotetraacetic acid and derivatives, etc.; and buffering agents, such as monoanddi-sodium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, and others. If desired, other therapeutically active ingredients can be added, provided they are compatible with the steroid phosphate and with the other ingredients of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the 21- hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate is present in a concentrationof about 1 to about 500 mg. per ml. of solution, de-

pending upon the physiological activity of the steroid used. The stabilizing agent is present in a concentration of about 0.10 to about 10 mg. per ml. of solution. The other ingredients, i.e., the antioxidant and the buffering agents are added in the concentrations which are commonly used in parenteral solutions.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 To prepare one thousand 2 ml. ampuls the following ingredients are used:

Prednisolone ZI-phosphate disodium salt Sodium citrate anhydrous 20 g. Propylene glycol 330 g. Thioglycerol 1 g.

EXAMPLE 2 The same preparation as in Example 1 is prepared, but substituting thioglycolic acid for thioclycerol in the same doses.

EXAMPLE 3 To prepare one-thousand 5 ml. ampuls the following ingredients are used: r

Hydrocortisone ZI-phosphate disodium salt 1,490 g. Sodium citrate 50 g. Propylene glycol 830 g. Thioglycerol 5 g.

Citric acid q.s. to pH 7.0 4 Distilled water q.s. to 5 liters.

EXAMPLE 4 To prepare one-thousand 2 ml. ampuls the following ingredients are used:

Dexamethasone 2 1 -phosphate disodium salt 137 g. Sodium citrate 20 g. Propylene glycol 330 g. Thioglycerol 0.5 g.

Citric acid q.s. to pH 7.0

Distilled water q.s. to 2 liters The preparation is repeated using respectively 1,2,5 and l0 g. of thioglycerol.

EXAMPLES All preparations of Example 4 are repeated, but using IGB-methylprednisone 2l-phosphate instead of dexamethasone 2 1 -phosphate.

All the preparations according to Examples 1- -5 above did not show any appreciables precipitate or cloudiness after storing for several months at room temperature, or for 30-45 days at 50C.

For comparison, analogous preparations, but containing 20 mg. per ampul of cysteine as stabilizer were used. A marked crystalline precipitate was always observed after 6 days at room temperature and 3 days at 50C.

In the absence of stabilizing agents the same solutions became cloudy after a few hours.

We claim:

1. A pharmaceutical composition suitable for parenteral administration, comprising an aqueous solution of a parenterally effective dosage amount of a 21- hydroxy-steroid 2 1 -phosphate and sufficient thioglycerol to stabilize the solution against precipitatron.

2. A stable aqueous solution suitable for parenteral administration, comprising an aqueous solution of a parenterally effective dosage amount of a 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate and from about 0.10 to 10 mg. per ml. of thioglycerol.

3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate is dexamethasone 2 1 -phosphate.

4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim l, in which the 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phospha'te is prednisolone 2 1 -phosphate 5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 2l-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate is hydrocortisone 2 1 -phosphate.

6. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 2.1-hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate is 163- methylprednisone 2 1 -phosphate.

7. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution has a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

8. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the 2l-hydroxysteriod 2l-phosphate is the sole essential therapeutically active ingredient.

9. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 consisting essentially of the aqueous solution of the 21- hydroxysteroid 2l-phosphate, the thioglycerol stabilizer, and ingredients selected from the group consisting of antioxidant agents, preservatives, chelating agents, and buffering agents. 

2. A stable aqueous solution suitable for parenteral administration, comprising an aqueous solution of a parenterally effective dosage amount of a 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate and from about 0.10 to 10 mg. per ml. of thioglycerol.
 3. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate is dexamethasone 21-phosphate.
 4. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate is prednisolone 21-phosphate
 5. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate is hydrocortisone 21-phosphate.
 6. A pharmaceutical composition according to claim 1, in which the 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate is 16 Beta -methylprednisone 21-phosphate.
 7. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution has a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.
 8. A pharmaceutical composition of claim 1 wherein the 21-hydroxysteriod 21-phosphate is the sole essential therapeutically active ingredient.
 9. A pharmaceutical composition oF claim 1 consisting essentially of the aqueous solution of the 21-hydroxysteroid 21-phosphate, the thioglycerol stabilizer, and ingredients selected from the group consisting of antioxidant agents, preservatives, chelating agents, and buffering agents. 